Some Do Tell The Truth

Some Do Tell The Truth

We sat through the visual presentation that was put together by the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) and Keyspan Energy last week at the Beach Club and came away convinced that the northwestern portion of the old LILCO site on Beach 108 Street and Beach Channel Drive was the proper site for a new electric substation. We also came away convinced that the growth in electrical demand at the West End of Rockaway proves the company’s assertion that the new substation is eminently necessary. Through a series of four historic maps, experts took us through the growth of the site as a manufactured gas plant (MGP). After viewing the four maps, three of which were reproduced in last week’s Wave, it became clear that the site of the new substation was never part of the MGP and was contaminated only with leftover tar and resurfacing material that had been left behind by the Department of Traffic when it used the site as a supply are for its resurfacing efforts a few years ago. Despite what we believe is "proof" of the site’s provenance, a number of Rockaway residents continue to rail against the use of the site. Lew Simon says that the company gave us "B.S." about the site. Community gadfly Joan Mettler screamed at the company experts who attended the meeting, excoriating them for failing to tell the community the truth about the site. Rockaway has been lied to many times by government and corporation "experts." We should not accept the lies. When, however, we are told the truth, we should recognize it as such and move ahead.